By: Dale Weckbacher
Text: Joshua
22:1-9
Joshua 22:7-8
Now
to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in
Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their
brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to
their homes and blessed them, 8 he said to them,
“Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with
silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil
of your enemies with your brothers.”
(ESV)
Despite its political
divisiveness and sin, God has blessed the United States financially and
spiritually. These blessings from God
are the result of the nation’s Godly foundation outlined at its founding in the
Declaration of Independence.
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and
the half-tribe of Manasseh (the two and one-half tribes) have remained faithful
to their brothers and sisters by fighting with them against the Canaanites
inhabiting the land of Canaan. During
this time of serving their brothers and sisters, they have experienced victory
(Joshua
6; 11; 12:7-24) and defeat (Joshua
7:1-11; Joshua 9). During these
times of battle, struggle, and especially the times of defeat, the temptation
to leave and return to the safety of their inheritance east of the Jordan might
have been strong but they remained faithful.
God is about to reward the faithfulness of the two and one-half tribes
by allowing them to return to their families east of the Jordan because they
have fulfilled their promise to God, Moses, and Joshua (Numbers
32:16-19; Joshua 1:12-18; 22:1-9).
The faithfulness of the two and
one-half tribes provides an example of faithfulness for God and the Church to
follow during these unprecedented times.
The early Church and today’s persecuted Church in the world understand
the need to remain faithful to God and His Word, even when their lives are
threatened. However, in countries like
the United States where religious liberty is constitutionally protected, this
persecution occurs through legal means and social rejection. The holding of Churches to a tougher standard
on public gatherings illustrates legal persecution of the Church from a philosophy
that the church is unnecessary and a problem for society.
Scripture has given the Church a
clear mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark
16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). The
softening of the Catholic Church on its stance against same-sex civil unions indicates
unfaithfulness on the part of the Catholic Church because homosexuality is specifically
condemned in scripture (Romans
1:24-27). Instead of compromising in
the interest of not offending those living in sin by condemning their sin, the
Church must remain faithful to God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict
sinners of their sin, pointing them to Christ the source of salvation. Just as remaining faithful to their brothers
and sisters had a reward for the two and one-half tribes of Israel, remaining
faithful to the Word of God by the Church has the eternal reward of eternity
with Christ (John
3:16; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). If
you are reading this post and do not have a personal relationship with Christ,
I invite you to do so now by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my
sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe you died, spent
three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord
of my life.
Please pray that the Church
remains faithful during these unprecedented times. The Church and the message of the Gospel the Church
is called to declare is necessary and not the problem, but the solution to the
problem. May God strengthen and protect
His Church.
1. ushistory.org. The Declaration of
Independence. www.ushistory.org. [Online] [Cited: October 30, 2016.]
http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/.
2. Goldhill, Olivia.
Neil Gorsuch’s philosophical mentor cites “natural law” to reject same-sex
marriage and abortion. qz.com. [Online] Quartz, February 26, 2017.
[Cited: October 24, 2020.]
https://qz.com/918692/neil-gorsuchs-philosophical-mentor-cites-natural-law-to-reject-same-sex-marriage-and-abortion/.
3. Head, Timothy.
Why is Nevada allowing more people into its casinos than its churches? christianpost.com.
[Online] The Christian Post, August 4, 2020. [Cited: September 14, 2020.]
https://www.christianpost.com/voices/why-is-nevada-allowing-more-people-into-its-casinos-than-its-churches.html.
4. Sonner, Scott.
Nevada church renewing challenge of virus attendance cap. APnews.com. [Online]
AP News, June 12, 2020. [Cited: September 14, 2020.]
https://apnews.com/530eb5e5099f06be2a7b4ba9590cbdf1.
5. Wolf, Richard.
Supreme Court says Nevada can impose tighter virus limits on churches than
casinos. usatoday.com. [Online] USA Today, July 24, 2020. [Cited: August
18, 2020.] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/07/24/supreme-court-nevada-covid-rules-can-favor-casinos-over-churches/5454128002/.
6. The White House.
Executive Order on Preventing Online Censorship. whitehouse.gov. [Online]
The White House, May 28, 2020. [Cited: October 24, 2020.]
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-preventing-online-censorship/.
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